Suo Ran was getting ready for bed when his phone vibrated on the bedside table. He picked it up and saw a message from Lian Ziho. Lian Ziho: "Don't forget to lock the door. And go to sleep instead of staying up late." Suo Ran shook his head and replied, Suo Ran: "I know. You just left, and you're already acting like my mother. Go home and rest." A moment later, another message arrived. Lian Ziho: "Fine, fine. Good night, then." Suo Ran smiled a little. He put his phone aside and went to sleep, not thinking much about it.
Meanwhile Lian ziho sat in his damaged car, his forehead still hurting from the accident. He read Suo Ran's reply and smiled.Lian ziho read the message again, thinking about the confession he had almost sent earlier. If I'd sent it, would you still talk to me like this? Would you still complain about my messages, or would things become awkward between us?... His smile slowly faded. I want you to choose me, Ran. Not because you feel sorry for me or think you owe me anything. I want you to choose me because you want me in your life... He lowered his phone and leaned back carefully, wincing as his head started to hurt again. But you don't feel the same way. I know that. I can't ask you to give me something you don't feel...He thought about opening their chat again, just to look at Suo Ran's name, but stopped himself and locked the phone instead. I have no right to ask for anything more. Being able to talk to you like this should be enough... He wiped the blood from his forehead, then finally started the car and drove away.
The next morning, Lian Ziho arrived at Suo Ran's home carrying two bags of breakfast. A bandage covered the cut on his forehead, and his shoulder still hurt, so he tried not to move his arm too much. He rang the doorbell and waited. Inside, Suo Ran was in the kitchen when he heard it. "Jun Wei, can you open the door?" he called. "Coming, Gege!" Jun Wei ran to the door and pulled it open. His face lit up when he saw Lian ziho, but his smile disappeared as soon as he noticed the bandage on his forehead. "Lian gege! What happened to your head?"
Lian ziho lifted the breakfast bags with a smile. "Good morning to you, too. I brought breakfast." Jun Wei barely glanced at the food. He stepped closer and looked at the bandage with a worried face. "I'm asking about your head!" "I had a little accident. I'm fine." Lian ziho tried to sound casual, but Jun Wei wasn't convinced. He looked at the bandage again, then up at Lian ziho's face. "What kind of accident? Did you fall? Did someone hit you?" "One question at a time, Doctor Jun."
Lian ziho reached out with his hand to ruffle Jun Wei's hair, but the boy caught his wrist before he could. "Don't joke! You're hurt!" Lian ziho paused, surprised by how serious he was. He lowered his hand and gave the boy a softer smile. "Really, it's not that bad." Jun Wei still looked worried. He took the breakfast bags from Lian ziho, making sure not to bump his injured shoulder. "You shouldn't carry so much when you're hurt." Before Lian ziho could answer, Suo Ran came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. "Who is it? Jun Wei, why are you—"
He stopped when he saw Lian ziho's face. His eyes went straight to the bandage on his forehead, and he lowered the towel in his hands. "What happened to your head?"
Lian ziho gave him an easy smile and lifted the breakfast bags a little. "Good morning, Suo Ran. I brought breakfast." Suo Ran ignored the bags and walked closer to look at the bandage. "I can see that. I'm asking about your head." Lian ziho's smile faded for a moment before he answered, "I had a little accident last night." Suo Ran frowned. "What accident? When did it happen? Why didn't you tell me?" He raised his hand as if to check the injury but stopped before touching the bandage. "Did you see a doctor?" Lian ziho looked at him for second then adjusted the bags in his hands. "It happened after I left. It wasn't a big deal, so I didn't think there was any reason to call you."
Suo Ran stared at him. "You hurt your head badly enough to need a bandage, and you think that's not a big deal?" "It's just a small cut. The doctor cleaned it and told me to rest." "Then why are you here instead of resting?" Suo Ran asked. "You could have stayed home and sent me a message. I would have understood." Lian ziho didn't answer right away.I just wanted to see you. Even after a night like that, you're still the first person I wanted to see...You worry about me because we're friends. You open the door because you care about me. You would probably do the same for anyone you loved as a friend. I know that. So why does a part of me still wish I could be someone different to you?...
He lowered the bags a little and shrugged. "I thought you might not have had breakfast yet." Suo Ran still looked unhappy, but his expression softened a little. "You could have told me you were coming. I would have made something." "I know, but you would have gone to the trouble of cooking. I already had everything ready." "That isn't the point, Lian ziho." Suo Ran sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I'm not upset because you brought breakfast. I'm upset because you got hurt and didn't think to tell me. You don't have to deal with everything on your own."
Lian ziho looked at him for a moment.You always worry about me, Suo Ran. You make me feel like I have a place in your life, even when I know that place will never be the one I want... For a brief moment, he wished he could tell Suo Ran how much those simple words meant to him, how easily they made him forget the distance between what he felt and what Suo Ran could give. But he knew better than to ask for more.
He gave Suo Ran a small smile instead. "I understand. I'll tell you next time." "You'd better." Jun Wei, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. "Then why are you still holding those bags? Give them to me." Before Lian ziho could answer, Jun Wei carefully took the bags from his hands, making sure not to touch his injured shoulder. Lian ziho looked at him in surprise as the boy adjusted his grip. "You shouldn't carry so much when you're hurt," Jun Wei said with a frown. "If your head hurts, you should sit down instead of standing here."
Lian ziho smiled and gently patted his head with his good hand. "All right, Doctor Jun. I'll be careful." Jun Wei didn't smile back. "I'm serious, Lian gege. You can't keep saying you're fine when you're hurt." Lian ziho paused and lowered his hand. The boy looked so worried that he couldn't bring himself to joke again. "You're right," he said. "I shouldn't have brushed it off." Jun Wei seemed a little more satisfied, but his eyes still moved to the bandage. "Does your head hurt now?" "A little, but it's manageable." "What about your shoulder?" "It hurts when I move it too much."
Suo Ran stepped forward and took the bags from Jun Wei. "Then don't move it too much. Come inside and sit down. I'll get you some water, and after breakfast, you can rest here for a while if you don't want to go home yet." Lian ziho looked at him. "Are you sure? I don't want to cause trouble." Suo Ran gave him a tired look. "You've been coming here for breakfast without an invitation for ages. Don't start acting like a guest now just because you have a bandage on your head." Lian ziho couldn't help laughing. "That's a rather generous way of describing my behavior." "It's an accurate one."
Suo Ran turned toward the living room but slowed down to make sure Lian ziho was following without hurting his shoulder. "Come on. And next time something happens, tell me. You don't need to wait until I notice the injury myself." Lian ziho followed him inside, his smile growing quieter. "All right. I'll tell you." Suo Ran placed a plate in front of Lian Ziho and moved the chopsticks closer to his hand. "Eat slowly, and don't move your injured arm too much. If you need anything, just ask." His voice was firm, but the way he kept checking the bandage on Lian ziho's forehead made his concern clear.
Lian ziho looked at the plate, then up at him. "You don't have to keep watching me. I can manage." "Then show me you can do that without hurting yourself again." Suo Ran pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down. Jun Wei, sitting beside Lian ziho, nodded seriously. "Gege is right. You should listen to him." Lian ziho glanced at the him, then back at Suo Ran. "It seems I've lost the vote." "You should have thought of that before showing up injured," Suo Ran replied as he picked up his chopsticks. Lian ziho smiled faintly and began eating.
For a while, they talked about Jun Wei's plans for the day. Lian ziho asked him about the book he had been reading, and the boy soon became busy explaining his favorite part. Suo Ran listened while occasionally adding a question, and the morning slowly began to feel normal again. When Lian ziho reached for the glass of water at the same time Suo Ran did, their fingers touched around it. Both stopped. Lian ziho looked up, and Suo Ran was already looking at him. Their eyes met for a brief moment, neither of them moving to take the glass.
Then Suo Ran pulled his hand back. "Here. You take it first." "Thanks." Lian ziho picked up the glass, suddenly paying more attention to it than he needed to. He took a sip before setting it down carefully. Suo Ran returned to his food, but he was quieter now, and Lian ziho found himself avoiding his eyes.He cleared his throat and turned back to Jun Wei, asking him another question about his book. Jun Wei happily continued talking, unaware of the brief silence between the two men. Lian ziho glanced at Suo ran once more. When Suo ran looked up and caught him, Lian ziho quickly lowered his eyes to his plate.
After breakfast, Lian Ziho began gathering his things to leave. He folded the napkin beside his plate and placed it neatly on the table before reaching for his phone and keys. Usually, he would find some excuse to stay longer. He might offer to help Suo Ran clean up, ask Jun Wei about his book, or simply sit around until Suo Ran finally told him it was getting late. Today, however, he seemed determined not to trouble them. He checked his phone, put it away, and reached for his bag while Suo Ran was still carrying the dishes to the kitchen.
Suo Ran noticed immediately. He set the plates down beside the sink and turned to look at Lian ziho, who was carefully slipping his injured arm through the strap of his bag. When the movement made him wince, Suo Ran stepped forward and took the bag from him. "Give it to me. You're going to hurt your shoulder again." "It's just a bag." Lian ziho said, but he let Suo Ran take it. "And you're just someone who never knows when to stop." Suo Ran replied, placing the bag near the door.
Lian ziho smiled faintly and followed him. "If I stay any longer, you'll start thinking I'm helpless." "I already think you're careless. There's a difference." Lian ziho laughed quietly, but it faded as he watched Suo Ran bend to pick up the keys he had dropped beside his shoes. Suo Ran straightened and held the keys out to him, just as he had done countless times before. Lian ziho reached for them, and their fingers brushed briefly. Suo Ran barely seemed to notice. He simply released the keys and turned to check whether Lian ziho's bag was still in the way of the door.
But Lian ziho stood still for a moment, his fingers closing around the keys a little tighter than necessary. "What is it?" Suo Ran asked when he noticed Lian wasn't moving. Lian ziho quickly put keys into his pocket and shook his head. "Nothing. I was just thinking that you really do treat me like a child sometimes." Suo Ran gave him a look. "If you stopped acting like one, maybe I wouldn't have to." "Then I suppose I'll have to improve." Lian ziho picked up his bag, adjusting the strap carefully so it wouldn't press against his injured shoulder. "Though I can't promise it'll happen today." Suo Ran shook his head, but a small smile appeared on his face. He reached for the door and held it open, waiting for Lian ziho to step outside.
Lian ziho walked past him, then stopped near the doorway and turned back. For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something more, but he only adjusted his grip on the bag. "Thanks for breakfast." "You don't have to thank me for that." "I know." Lian ziho smiled. "I still wanted to." Suo Ran watched him for a second before stepping out after him. The hallway was quiet, and Lian ziho moved slowly, careful not to strain his shoulder. Suo Ran stayed beside him until they reached the stairs. "You should go straight home and rest. Don't stop anywhere, and don't try to do anything with that arm."
Lian ziho looked at him for second then said, "I'll rest. I promise." "You said that last time, too." "And you still trusted me enough to let me come over." Lian ziho meant it as a joke, but the words left a brief silence between them. Suo Ran looked at him, then reached over to straighten the twisted strap of his bag. "Because you're my friend. I don't want you getting hurt." Lian ziho lowered his eyes as Suo Ran adjusted the strap and stepped back. Your friend. I know, Ran. That's all I've ever been to you, and I have no right to ask for more. But sometimes, I wish you wouldn't remind me. It's easier to pretend I'm satisfied with being your friend when you don't say it out loud...
"Don't worry I'm fine." Lian ziho said, trying to ease the silence. "I'm not disappearing. You'll probably get tired of my messages before the day is over." Suo Ran gave him a questioning look. "That's not something I'm worried about." The answer came so quickly that Lian ziho looked at him again. For a brief moment, he searched Suo Ran's face, wondering if there was something more behind those words. But Suo Ran simply checked that Lian ziho had his phone and keys before stepping aside to let him leave. "Just don't make me regret trusting you to take care of yourself." he added. Something softened in Lian ziho's expression.He smiled. "You told me I shouldn't spend my whole life waiting. I thought I'd start by not wasting your morning." Suo Ran didn't ask what he meant. Instead, he said, "Message me when you get home safely." Lian Ziho looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "I will."Lian Ziho gave him a smile and turned to leave. Suo Ran stood there, watching him disappear down the stairs.
By Saturday afternoon, clothes were scattered across Suo Ran's bed. He stood in front of the wardrobe, holding a black shirt in one hand and a white one in the other. After looking at both for a while, he hung them back up, only to take them out again a moment later. Why is choosing clothes harder than solving an actual problem?... He tried on another shirt, checked himself in the mirror, and shook his head. With a sigh, he tossed it onto the bed and ran a hand through his hair.
Just then, Jun Wei appeared at the door. He looked at the mess on the bed and then at his brother. "Gege, what are you doing?" "Choosing clothes. What else?" Suo Ran replied. Jun Wei walked into the room, stepping over the clothes on the floor. "Then why does it look like you fought with your wardrobe?" Suo Ran gave him a look. Jun Wei quickly covered his mouth to hide his smile. "Come here, little troublemaker. Since you're so clever, help me choose something." Jun Wei's face lit up. He climbed onto the bed, sat among the clothes, and patted the space beside him. "Bring them here. I'll choose for you."
Suo Ran picked up three shirts from the bed and placed them beside Jun Wei. "All right, you're in charge. Choose one that makes me look good." Jun Wei immediately sat up straight, putting on a serious expression as he examined the shirts. "Gege, you already look good." Suo Ran smiled and leaned against the bedpost. "Really?" "Yes." Jun Wei nodded confidently, then picked up a shirt and held it at arm's length. "But some of your clothes are ugly." Suo Ran's smile disappeared. He slowly straightened up and stared at the boy. "You little—" He reached for Jun Wei, but the boy quickly grabbed a pillow and held it in front of himself like a shield. "Don't hit me! I'm telling the truth!" "Come here and say that again."
Suo Ran stepped closer, trying to pull the pillow away, but Jun Wei clutched it with both hands and scooted toward the other side of the bed. "You're just mad because I'm right!" "Oh, so now you're an expert in fashion?" Suo Ran caught the edge of the pillow and tugged. Jun Wei pulled it back with all his strength, his feet sliding across the bedsheet. "I know more than you!" "Really? Then why are you hiding behind a pillow?" "Because you're scary when you're angry!" Jun Wei let go of the pillow without warning. Suo Ran stumbled backward a step, giving the boy just enough time to scramble across the bed.
Laughing, Suo Ran went after him, stepping around the pile of clothes scattered between them. Just as he caught the back of Jun Wei's shirt, the boy dropped flat onto the bed and wriggled out of his grasp. "You're too slow, Gege!" Jun Wei crawled toward the headboard, grinning as he looked back at him. Suo Ran narrowed his eyes. "Oh, am I?" He caught Jun Wei around the waist before the boy could escape again and started tickling his side. Jun Wei burst into laughter, twisting from side to side and kicking his legs against the mattress. "Stop! Gege, stop!" He tried to catch Suo Ran's hands, but every time he managed to grab one, the other found another spot to tickle. "I was wrong!" "Wrong about what?" Suo Ran asked, keeping a straight face. "Your clothes!"
Jun Wei gasped between laughs. "Your clothes are all beautiful!" "And?" "You're the most handsome person in the world!" Suo Ran gave him a few more tickles before finally letting go. "Better." Jun Wei rolled onto his back and lay there catching his breath, his hair sticking up in several directions. He glared at his brother for a moment, but the glare quickly turned into a grin when Suo Ran ruffled his hair. "You're enjoying this far too much," Jun Wei complained, trying to fix his hair with both hands. "You started it." "I was giving you honest advice." "Then I'll give you some honest advice of my own."
Suo Ran reached for the pillow again, and Jun Wei immediately sat up and grabbed the nearest shirt, holding it out to him as a peace offering. "All right, all right! Choose the blue one." Suo Ran paused and looked at the shirt in his hand, then at the other two lying on the bed. "You just said I could wear anything." Jun Wei shrugged as if that were the simplest thing in the world. "I changed my mind." Suo Ran stared at him for a moment, then shook his head and picked up the blue shirt. "You change your mind more than I do." Jun Wei settled back against the pillows, looking entirely pleased with himself. "That's because I'm smart enough to know when I've made a mistake."
Suo Ran grabbed the pillow and dropped it over Jun Wei's face. "Then think carefully before you speak next time." Jun Wei pulled the pillow away, his hair sticking up as he giggled."Gege, you're bullying me!" Suo Ran picked up one of the shirts lying on the bed and shook it out. "And you're still talking." "Because you haven't given me a snack yet!" Jun Wei sat up straight and held out his hand. Suo Ran stopped folding the shirt and glanced at him. "So that's what all this is about." Jun Wei lowered his hand, then crawled over and rested his chin on Suo Ran's shoulder, peeking at the clothes. "Maybe." Suo Ran gave him a sideways look. "You're shameless." "I learned from you."
Suo Ran slowly turned his head to look at him. Jun Wei held his gaze for half a second before quickly sliding off the bed. He snatched up the blue shirt and held it out to his brother. "This one! You should wear this one!" Suo Ran laughed at his sudden change of attitude and took the shirt. "Good choice. At least you know when to run." Jun Wei ignored the comment and held the shirt against Suo Ran's chest, checking how it looked. After a moment, he stepped back and tilted his head. Suo Ran glanced down at him. "What are you doing?" Jun Wei suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute, Gege. Why are you taking so long to choose clothes?" Suo Ran folded one sleeve over the other. "Because I want to look good." "Good?" Jun Wei repeated suspiciously. He walked around his brother, looking him up and down.
Suo Ran raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?" Jun Wei stopped in front of him and folded his arms. "Investigating." "Investigating what?" Suo Ran asked, draping the shirt over his arm. Jun Wei leaned closer. "Are you trying to impress someone?" Suo Ran paused. "What?" Jun Wei's eyes widened with excitement. "Is there someone you like?" "Where did that come from?" Suo Ran put the shirt down and reached for another one, hoping Jun Wei would lose interest. Instead, the boy followed him along the bed. "People dress nicely when they want someone to like them." He nodded confidently before leaning closer and lowering his voice. "So, who are you going to propose to, hmm?"
Suo Ran stared at him for a second before bursting out laughing."Propose? Where did you learn that word?" Jun Wei looked at him proudly. "From the television." He climbed onto the bed and sat among the clothes. "They wear nice clothes, give flowers, and ask someone to marry them. So tell me! Who is it?" "Nobody!" Suo Ran reached over to pinch his cheek, but Jun Wei quickly ducked behind a pillow. He peeked around its edge and rubbed his cheek. "You're lying! Your face looks suspicious!" Suo Ran lowered his hand and stared at him. "My face looks suspicious?" "Yes!" Jun Wei pointed at him. "You're smiling!" Suo Ran shook his head and picked up the shirt again. "I'm smiling because you're being ridiculous."
Jun Wei lowered the pillow slightly. "That's exactly what someone hiding a secret would say." Suo Ran gave him a helpless look and returned to sorting the clothes. He folded a shirt and placed it on the chair, but Jun Wei climbed off the bed and followed him. When Suo Ran moved to the other side, Jun Wei followed again. Suo Ran stopped and looked at him. Jun Wei stopped, too, then gave him a bright smile."Gege, you don't have to hide it from me. I'm your brother. I'll support you." Suo Ran laughed and turned away, shaking his head. "Support me? You can't even fold a shirt properly." Jun Wei looked down at the shirt in his hands. Its sleeves were twisted, and one corner had nearly slipped to the floor. He tried to straighten it before giving up and throwing it at his brother. "That's not related!"
Suo Ran caught it easily and tossed it back onto the bed. "All right, then." He leaned against the mattress with an amused smile. "Since you're so supportive, should I ask you to help me choose flowers, too?" Jun Wei's eyes lit up. He dropped the shirt and stepped closer. "Really?" Suo Ran straightened his face. "No." Jun Wei's smile vanished. "Gege!" He rushed forward and grabbed Suo Ran's arm. "You can't take it back! You said it!" Suo Ran tapped his forehead with one finger. "I said it as a joke."
Jun Wei rubbed his forehead, then caught Suo Ran's sleeve again. "Then I'll choose the flowers as a joke!" he argued. "And I'll make you practice what to say." He released Suo Ran's arm and stood in front of him. "You have to look into the person's eyes and say, 'I like you.'" Jun Wei took a deep breath, straightened his back, and looked directly into Suo Ran's eyes. "I like you." Suo Ran pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh. Jun Wei waited for his response, but when Suo Ran raised an eyebrow, his ears turned red. He quickly looked away and fiddled with his shirt. "I'm learning!" Suo Ran rested a hand on his hip. "From the television?" "Yes!" Jun Wei lifted his head again. "Then I hope the television teaches you how to mind your own business, too."
Suo Ran ruffled his hair. Jun Wei squealed and ducked away, hurriedly patting it back into place. "Gege! Stop messing it up!" Suo Ran withdrew his hand. "I barely touched it." "Look at it!" Jun Wei tried to smooth down the stubborn strands, but they only stuck up again. Suo Ran laughed and picked up the blue shirt, holding it against himself as he checked the color in the mirror. Jun Wei moved beside him and examined their reflections. After a moment, he nodded with satisfaction. "See? I told you this one was better." Suo Ran glanced at their reflections. "Yes, yes. You're very talented." He put the shirt down on the bed and turned to Jun Wei. "All right, little matchmaker. The investigation is over. Go and find something else to do." Jun Wei crossed his arms and gave him a doubtful look. "Fine. But when you get married, don't forget I knew about your love life first."
Suo Ran nearly dropped the shirt. He turned sharply toward him, who was already grinning. "Get out!" Jun Wei burst into laughter and ran toward the door. Just before disappearing into the hallway, he stopped and poked his head back inside. "Gege! Don't forget the flowers!" Suo Ran grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. Jun Wei ducked just in time, laughing as the pillow sailed past him and landed near the doorway. "Missed me!" he called before disappearing down the hall. Suo Ran shook his head, still smiling, and went back to choosing his clothes.